Capturing the scale of nature

Article Excerpt: When considering nature images, one finds that most differ by the scale of scene captured. Three loosely defined categories to keep in mind are:

* Grand Scenic – covering large expanses of the landscape

* Intimate – perhaps the most elusive of all – isolating the “scene within a scene” – keeping only what’s important and giving the viewer a sense of being there.

* Close-up and/or macro – enlarging and drawing attention to elements often too small for most casual viewers to notice otherwise

Each of these requires a different way of examining and interpreting a scene. Surprisingly a given scene may yield successful images in any or even all these scales – standing in front of a grand mountain scene, you may discover interesting patterns that can be isolated, or a small flower at your feet.

Compose. Capture. Create. You don't have to be technically proficient. You don't need to own the most expensive camera. The art of photography requires perception, passion and persistence. Every image you take is a story. Be true to your art and tell your story well.